YouTuber golf content creator Grant Horvat recently found himself facing a career-defining decision: whether to accept a sponsor’s exemption into the Barracuda Championship 2025, a PGA Tour event set to tee off July 14-20, played opposite The Open Championship. Known for his sleek swing, media savvy, and over a million YouTube subscribers, Horvat’s invitation sparked debate—should a digital creator with limited pro credentials take a spot in a PGA Tour field?
Horvat is far from a random influencer. A former collegiate golfer at Palm Beach Atlantic University and co-founder of the apparel brand Primo Golf, he’s become a central figure in the fast-growing world of YouTube golf. His win at the 2025 Creator Classic—a PGA Tour-hosted exhibition at TPC Sawgrass featuring top golf content creators—further solidified his place in the new media-golf crossover space. Still, Horvat admitted he was conflicted about accepting the Barracuda exemption, unsure whether his platform justified entry into a pro event. To talk it through, Horvat played a casual stroke-play match with none other than World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, featured on his YouTube channel Grant Horvat Golf. As they rolled through the fairways, Horvat opened up about the emotional weight of the decision: “I really want to do it,” he admitted. “There’s a lot of emotions.”
Scheffler didn’t sugarcoat it. He respected the dream, but not at the expense of honesty. “You didn’t earn the spot ‘cause you haven’t played good enough in this tournament,” he replied. “It’s a sponsor’s invite to the golfer. Like, you’ve done enough in the game of golf, around the game of golf, to earn that spot. Just because you haven’t shot the scores in tournament golf doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t be playing in the tournament.” Scheffler emphasized that the Barracuda, an opposite-field event, benefits from added exposure. “There’s a reason they’re giving you the spot,” he continued. “I mean, I wouldn’t—personally, I wouldn’t hesitate to take it if I was you. No pressure.”
Live Now! Scottie Scheffler 1v1 18 holes pic.twitter.com/TkOnQMddYd
— Grant Horvat (@GrantHorvatGolf) May 5, 2025
Scheffler’s take cuts to the heart of a modern golf debate: Should sponsors’ exemptions reward only competitive achievement, or also celebrate those growing the game in nontraditional ways? The Barracuda, a modified Stableford event held during The Open week, typically offers sponsors more flexibility, making it a logical setting for an experimental pick like Horvat. Horvat may lack deep tournament credentials, but his influence is undeniable. If the No. 1 player in the world says he’s earned the chance, maybe it’s time the rest of the golf world listened. But as Horvat steps into the spotlight, his invite is doing more than turning heads—it’s reopening wounds in the PGA Tour’s ongoing struggle with LIV Golf, and raising fresh questions about consistency and fairness.
Horvat’s Barracuda exemption rekindles PGA Tour’s LIV double standard debate
Grant Horvat’s sponsor’s exemption into the 2025 Barracuda Championship isn’t just a viral moment—it’s a lightning rod for a broader controversy. While the YouTube creator gears up for his PGA Tour debut, many are pointing out the double standard exposed by his recent appearance in The Duels: Miami, a LIV Golf-affiliated content event. Just two weeks prior, Horvat competed in the same YouTube production that got PGA Tour pro Wesley Bryan suspended.
So, why is Horvat being celebrated while Bryan faces consequences? As the Fore Play Podcast hosts broke down, the answer lies in membership status. Bryan is an active PGA Tour member and failed to seek a required release. Horvat, meanwhile, is a media figure and non-member, technically free to do as he pleases. But that loophole hasn’t silenced critics. “It’s a little hypocritical,” said host Trent, noting Horvat’s LIV video was posted directly to his channel, then followed by a Tour invite.
The juxtaposition is awkward: one participant gets punished, the other gets a golden opportunity. Whether intentional or not, the message is clear—if you’re a creator, the rules don’t apply the same way. Horvat’s path to the Barracuda might be historic, but it’s also forcing a reckoning the PGA Tour can’t ignore.
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